Mental Retardation Essay - 510 Words

Mental Retardation Mental retardation is defined as, an individual with limitations in cognitive ability and adaptive behaviors that interfere with learning. Individuals with mental retardation learn at a slower pace, have low IQs, and may reach a level where learning stops. There are no exact causes for mental retardation but some things are associated with the disability. Prenatal development problems, childbirth difficulties, and a childhood brain injury can all lead to mental retardation. An individual with mental retardation might have problems in learning and social skills. Learning problems can include: difficulty making decisions, short attention spans, and limited strategies for dealing†¦show more content†¦Sam raises Lucy with the help of a neighbor and friends. When Lucy reaches the age of seven she begins to realize her fathers disability, something I she never noticed before. This realization begins causing problems with Lucys school work because she doesnt want to be smarter than her dad. At Lucys seventh birthday party there is an incident with the children causing the courts to step in and take Lucy away. Sam doesnt want to lose Lucy. Sam finds an attorney, Rita (Michelle Pfeiffer). At first Rita wants nothing to do with the case, until she is given a guilt trip by every one. Rita takes the case and even decides to do it for free. Rita her-self has problems through out the movie with her family. Her meeting Sam helps her to face those problems and solve them. Many witnesses are called to the stand during the trial, in Sams defense. I feel they are not taken seriously though, because they also have some form of disability. During the trial Sam finds a new job and moves closer to Lucy and her foster parents. Lucy snuck out many nights and walked to her fathers apartment, until her foster parents put bars on the windows. Sam and Rita develop a strong relationship over the course of the trial and Rita does all she can to get Lucy back. When the trial is over custody of Lucy is awarded to her foster parents and Sams heart is broken. Sam goesShow MoreRelatedMental Retardation And The Age Of 181501 Words   |  7 PagesMENTAL RETARDATION AND THE ABLITY TO LEARN MENTAL RETARDATION [AN OVERVIEW] WHAT DOES MENTAL RETARDATION MEAN? To quote, â€Å"Mental retardation (MR) is a developmental disability that first appears in children under the age of 18. 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